LOOKING FOR LOVE (1964)

Libby (Connie Francis) is frustrated—she has spent an entire month in Hollywood looking for a singing job and has had no luck, though she thinks her real talent will be getting married and having children. While grocery shopping with her roommate Jan (Susan Oliver), she meets Paul (Jim Hutton), a tall and handsome co-worker of Jan's, and is certain she can catch him even though he barely notices her—Jan warns her that Paul likes his women "T and T," that is, tall and top-heavy, an observation that is illustrated when he see him fondle two large lemons while gazing at a well-built woman. Moments later, Libby literally runs into Cuz Rickover (Joby Baker), a friend of Jan's, who is working at the store. Cuz seems smitten but Libby barely notices him—he's cute but doesn't seem to be husband material. Frustrated with trying to keep her clothes tidy, Libby invents a "lady valet" for women to hang their clothes on; this gets Paul's attention as he sees a chance to invest in a money-making product. He gets her on the Johnny Carson show and tries to get some celebrity endorsements, but the whole time, Libby has convinced herself that he's fallen in love with her, even as Jan tries to push Libby and Cuz together. Then, when almost accidentally, Libby's singing career takes off, Paul does get interested in her. But where does that leave sweet Cuz? And Jan, who is more Paul's type?

This romantic comedy has a weak script and the leads are miscast, but there is some fun to be had watching all the pieces fall into place. Francis and Hutton don't seem comfortable in their roles, even though both were veterans of the rom-com genre. Francis seems a little bored and her character is mostly unlikeable; Hutton tries going over-the-top while aping Jimmy Stewart's delivery but he's just not uninhibited enough to be successful. Baker and Oliver are much more appealing (I quite like Baker--pictured with Francis--who starred in a late 60s sitcom, Good Morning World, before leaving the Hollywood radar), and there are a handful of fun cameos by celebs playing themselves. In addition to Johnny Carson, we see Paula Prentiss and Yvette Mimieux as two of the potential endorsers, and George Hamilton does a screen test with Francis. The funniest scene is of Francis, on a Danny Thomas TV special, involved in an elaborate production number which completely falls apart. What I enjoyed the most in this movie is the color scheme—the production design is awash in bright, cotton-candy colors, and I could almost convince myself to watch it again just for that. [TCM]